Chargers again push deadline to get a sellout

The extremely high level of local affection for them is unquestioned, easily measured by the number of bolt-adorned blue jerseys bearing the names Tomlinson, Merriman, Gates and Rivers.

Ratings for their games are through the roof locally. With their stars and their scintillating style of play and their two straight division titles, national interest in them is such that when they host the New York Jets next week on “Monday Night Football,” it will be the first of five prime-time games they'll play this 16-game regular season.

Even with the cachet of “MNF,” the Chargers-Jets game remains subject to the 72-hour blackout rule that would go into effect Friday at 5:30 p.m., although few believe it'll happen. That in itself might be a reason for the lack of a late rush for the last thousand or so tickets available, the fact that the blackout hasn't been enforced in a Chargers game at Qualcomm Stadium since the New Orleans Saints came to town in the middle of the 2004 season.

Still, what gives? Why does it always seem to be a question?

“The problem that exists (is) that we've been sold out 31 straight games coming into this and everybody thinks, 'They're sold out,'” said Jim Steeg, the Chargers' chief operating officer. “We've run into so many people who've either called for tickets or talked to you and said, 'What do you mean, they're still available?' They just can't believe that there are still tickets available to be purchased.

“We did significant advertising back in May and June and July, trying to let everybody know tickets were available. But I'm not sure it's getting through to everybody.”

According to Steeg, the Chargers sold “in the area of 8,000 new season tickets” for 2008, but actually cut off sales because many fans were more interested in buying single-game tickets.

“Last year when we did that, all those (single-game) tickets were gone within three weeks,” Steeg said. “That's not the case this year. I'm sure the economy has something to do with that.”

Raised for the fourth straight year, Chargers ticket prices now average $81.39, according to Team Marketing Report, well above the NFL average of $72.20. Team Marketing Report ranks the Chargers as having the seventh most expensive average ticket in the NFL.

In order to beat the blackout, television affiliates or businesses generally buy, or guarantee purchase of, unsold tickets to be able to broadcast games locally, something fans here surely have come to expect. That happened as recently as the Sept. 7 season opener.

There are sources of rescue in other places as well, like Detroit, where a furniture company last week bought the last 3,100 tickets to lift the blackout of the Lions-Packers game.

The Minnesota Vikings were pushing the deadline this week with about 2,000 tickets left, putting at risk a no-blackout streak that goes all the way back to 1997, but yesterday received a 24-hour extension from the NFL.

LT RESTS AGAIN

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson again was withheld from the first full day of practice, and while veteran nose tackle Jamal Williams is expected to play Monday night, he and center Nick Hardwick were “limited” in participation in drills. Offensive tackle Marcus McNeill was fully engaged in practice, as were safety Clinton Hart (with his left forearm and wrist bandaged) and linebackers Shaun Phillips and Marques Harris.

Of Tomlinson's non-participation, coach Norv Turner said, “It has nothing to do with precaution. If he could run, LT would be out here running. This is like a Wednesday of a normal game week, so we'll see where he is (today and tomorrow).”

N.Y. STATE OF MIND

The Chargers don't play the Jets all that often, but several of their personnel have seen a lot of the Jets up close. Chargers defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator of the Jets (2001-03), and his secondary coach there was Bill Bradley, now with the Chargers as well. Defensive end Luis Castillo was born in Brooklyn and strong safety Steve Gregory is from Staten Island, while two starting linebackers, Shaun Phillips and Jyles Tucker, are from the New Jersey side the Jets call home.